As part of the Belgian Presidency, a pre-launch event is organised on 16 April 2024 to present the first European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (“EDIC”) on Networked Local Digital Twins Towards the CitiVerse. 

The event will be organised in person at Belpairegebouw, Flemish government, Kantoor 2023, Simon Bolivarlaan 17, 1000 Brussels. This building is located opposite the Brussels-North railway station.

Please register for the event through this link.

What is an EDIC?

A European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) is an instrument made available to Member States under the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 to speed up and simplify the setup and implementation of multi-country projects.

EDICs will enable the achievement of the Digital Decade's general objectives and targets. Each EDIC is a legal person established by a Commission decision upon the application of at least three Member States and Commission approval. Its budget will be based on its members’ contributions complemented by other sources of revenues, which may include EU and national grants. 

An EDIC may implement a multi-country project by deploying joint infrastructure, delivering services and bringing together public entities, private entities, final users and industry, as considered appropriate by the founding Member States. The involvement of local and regional authorities in the EDIC is foreseen and will be discussed at the event. 

Agenda of the meeting 

10:00 Registration

10:30 Welcome speech by Jan Smedts,  CEO Digitaal Vlaanderen

10:45 Setting the scene by Martin Bailey, Head of Unit, DG Connect, European Commission

11:00 Keynote 

11:30 Boosting Innovation through the EDIC, by Ernesto Faubel and Jordi Ortuno Ribe, Chair and Co-Chair of the EDIC

11:50 Panel Debate: How to sustain the collaboration within the EDIC in the function of supporting the triple transition in cities and regions.

12:30 Networking lunch

13:30 End